The U.S. Army chief of staff this month questioned the
effectiveness of a new armed scout helicopter being developed
by BOEING CO. and UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.'s Sikorsky
Aircraft, an Army official said on Monday. Analysts said the
questions about the RAH-66 Comanche reinforced their view that
the helicopter could face budget cuts in 2005. The aircraft,
which has been restructured six times in 20 years, is due to
begin low-rate initial production in 2006. Gen. Peter
Schoomaker, the chief of staff, asked program managers and
other officials at a meeting on Nov. 4 to examine Comanche to
determine if it would fulfill the Army's current and future
combat needs, said spokesman Maj. Gary Tallman. But Tallman
said Comanche, was "on track" and fully funded after its last
restructuring in 2002.
(Reuters 06:24 PM ET 11/17/2003)

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